Living Normally In An Abnormal World - Chapter 36: During the Competition

Chapter 36: During the Competition

Yaya-chan’s performance was ‘overwhelming.’

The others also played beautifully and delicately, captivating the audience with their sound, but Yaya-chan surpassed them.

Even I, who knew nothing about music, could tell the difference.

“As expected of the young empress of the piano.”

A female staff member muttered.

“The young empress of the piano?”

“It’s Yaya-sama’s nickname. Yaya-sama is a talented individual who has won numerous piano competitions at the age of four. Don’t you know that as her maid?”

“Huh? No, I don’t know much since I just started working here today.”

“But you two seemed so close…”

“Ah, ahahaha.”

I could only give a dry laugh.

“This time, she’s more determined than ever. She’ll definitely win the gold prize again.”

As expected, Yaya-chan won the competition.

On stage, she received a trophy and was showered with enthusiastic applause from the audience, shining like the morning star under the starry sky.

“As expected of Yaya-sama! Today’s performance was even more wonderful than usual.”

“That tuxedo suits you very well!”

“Thank you very much.”

I thought I would be able to talk to her at length after the concert, but currently, she was surrounded by a large crowd, receiving praise.

She’s the winner, after all.

I decided to wait a little further back.

“I first thought that I may have just mistaken you for someone, I never expected that you would actually come here, Yuuto. I thought I told you not to come, but here you are. I definitely told you not to come, didn’t I?”

As I was waiting, I heard a voice that was all too familiar.

The only person who calls me by my first name. I knew who it was without even turning around.

“Huh? Erina-sama?!”

But I couldn’t help but be surprised.

“Yes, it’s me, the world’s number one noble, Tachibana Erina. And,”

“Her daughter, Maria.”

“…Oh.”

The surprises kept coming.

Me being found out is weird though.

I was just standing a little behind Yaya-chan’s circle, and I didn’t do anything strange that would give me out.

“You’re getting along well with the daughter of the Yamazaki family, Yuuto. You’re quick, aren’t you?”

“Please call me Yuu. By the way, Erina-sama, is the Yamazaki family famous?”

“They’re the world’s second-ranked nobles.”

My head was starting to hurt.

“Then, Yuut… Yuu why didn’t you tell us about this?”

“I can’t rely on you two every single time. And I thought it would be a nuisance if I messed up your schedule.”

At my excuse, the two of them sighed.

Hmm, I’m being scolded again.

I tried to be considerate, but it backfired.

“For now, I’ll stay away so that your cross-dressing doesn’t get exposed. Next time, I’d like you to be a butler instead of a maid.”

Do you want me to wear that flouncy skirt?!

“Also, Yaya-san has been glaring at me since a while ago.”

Maria said, and when I looked at Yaya-chan, she was indeed frowning at us.

I’ll have to make it up to her later.

“Ara ara, If it isn’t Erina. What business do you have with my maid?”

Shiori-san came, and instead of greeting her, she provocatively spoke to Erina.

“Ara, Shiori, I was just greeting my acquaintance. Is there a problem?”

“No, not at all. By the way, where is the child who is usually with Maria-san? Could it be that you two are having a falling out?”

Wait a minute, why is she bringing that up now?

Could it be that Shiori-san found out about my cross-dressing and the parties I attended?

I thought so, and when I looked at Shiori-san, she slightly relaxed her cheeks.

From her reaction, I realized that she had seen through my cross-dressing.

Hmm, we just met today, right? Were you monitoring me or something?

“No, she had something to do today, so she couldn’t come.”

“That’s unfortunate. Too bad she had something much more “important” to do, didn’t she?”

……Yikes, she’s really provoking her! Shiori-san, you’re really provoking Eri-na!

This is bad, Erina is really pissed. Shiori-san, Erina is really pissed at you right now.

Erina’s face was tense, and she looked like she was about to draw the sword she always carried at her waist at any moment.

“Yuu, you think so too, don’t you?”

Why are you asking me at this timing?!

She’s looking at me! Erina is glaring daggers at me~

“Well, if she had much more important plans with someone first, she would naturally go with that right?”

“I see, first come, first served…”

Hmm, it’s not entirely wrong, but I wish she wouldn’t put it that way.

I’m scared that my future schedule will be filled up.

I don’t want to lead a busy life where I have to carry a schedule book with me all the time.

“Did you know? I got embraced by her before the competition started .” (Referring to Yuuto still.)

Yaya-chan you mean!

Shiori-san, please stop provoking her!

“Ara, that’s all? I managed to kiss her cheeks, you know?”

Stop it! Adults shouldn’t be arguing!

“Erina-sama and Shiori-sama are arguing again.”

“We mustn’t get involved. We’ll definitely be crushed if we do.”

“Let’s escape from here right now!”

Because of Erina and Shiori-san being together, they were standing out. However, instead of approaching them, people were keeping their distance, so it might actually be better this way.

Well, from what I could see, the two of them didn’t seem to get along.

“Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

“”Yes, be careful.””

Or do they actually do?

“The restroom is right outside the door to the left.”

“Thank you, Maria-sama.”

I headed to the restroom.

As expected of Saint Athena Academy, they even had a unisex restroom.

As I left the restroom,…

“Ara, Yuu-san.”

I ran into Yamazaki Hanaka-san.

“Yes, hello, Hanaka-sama.”

“It’s perfect timing. Come to my private room and make me some tea.”

“No, I’m Yaya-sama’s maid, so…”

“It doesn’t matter who the maid serves if they’re properly trained. Anyone can do your job of taking care of Yaya-chan.”

Hmm, I’m a man, though.

“Or do you have a problem with something?”

Yes! I can definitely say that!

“No, it’s… that…”

“Then come on, I don’t like being kept waiting.”

Hanaka-san pulled me by the hand, and I was taken away.

It would be unnatural to shake her off here, so I had no choice but to go along with it.

Actually, I’m thinking that it might be okay to reveal myself to this person. But I’ll see how it goes first.

XXXXX

“It’s good enough, I guess.”

Or so she says, but she’s already at the fifth cup.

I’m glad you enjoyed it.

Since entering the private room, she hadn’t said anything other than asking me to make tea.

There was no conversation about what she liked, what she liked to do, what happened recently, etc.

She just silently asked for refills.

But I didn’t feel awkward. This kind of quiet time was actually quite nice.

“Yuu-san, do you think the most important thing in the world is money?”

She asked me this while I was making tea.

I didn’t want to talk about money, as it was a troublesome topic, but I had to answer since she asked.

“…… That might be the case.”

My answer was vague because I couldn’t deny it completely.

If she had asked me about the second most important thing, I would have said time.

“Hmm, why do you think so?”

“Money is where everything begins and ends… right? You need money to give birth to a child, to buy things, to receive an education, to send off the dead, and even after you die, you need money for your own funeral. To do anything, to live, you first need money.”

At my answer, Hanaka-san nodded in satisfaction and said,…

“That’s right. Money is important. With money, you can do anything. Yes, you can even make men move.”

“Why do you think so strongly about that?”

“I won’t tell you that. It’s not appropriate to talk about my deep circumstances to someone I just met today.”

“That’s true.”

“Well, I’ve enjoyed my tea, so let’s move on.”

Hanaka-san stood up and left the room.

I had been standing there the whole time, so I was a bit stiff.

Then, Hanaka-san poked her head out of the door and called me.

“What are you doing? You’re coming with me.”

The spoiled ojousama sure is demanding.

“Ah, yes. Where are we going?”

“Let’s take a walk outside, and you can be my escort and conversation partner as a maid.”

“Understood.”

I wanted to go back to Yaya-chan and the others, but I decided to spend a little more time with her.

XXXXX

“Um, Hanaka-sama. Aren’t we going back yet?”

“Ara, what are you doing, questioning me? You’re my maid, aren’t you? It’s impudent of you to talk to me like that.”

“No, I’m sorry.”

We walked around the grounds, passing by the fountain, flower beds, and gardens.

It wasn’t a problem for me since I was trained, but it was taking quite a while.

It had been over 30 minutes since we left the room.

“Really, you’ve ruined my mood a bit.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Well let’s stay here for a little bit and go back.”

“Okay.”

Hanaka-san went to the fountain and sat on a nearby bench.

I stood next to her.

Then, Hanaka-san said,…

“Ara, sit next to me.”

“Eh, no… but…”

For me, who had never seen a maid sit next to her master, this was a surprising request.

“Come on, hurry up. Are you making me wait again?”

She lightly tapped the space next to her with her right hand, signaling me to sit there.

“Well, understood. Then, excuse me.”

I sat down next to Hanaka-san.

Then, Hanaka-san suddenly looked happy and said,…

“By the way, Yuu-san. Your hands are very beautiful.”

“Ah, yes. My mother always tells me to take good care of them, so I do.”

“That’s wonderful. You’ve been well-trained.”

Hanaka-san held my left hand with both of hers and brought it towards herself.

“By the way, Yuu-san. I have something I want to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Why are you, a man, working as a maid?”

As soon as she asked me that, I heard a ‘clank’ sound in my ear.